How Canada’s Telecom Regulator Fights Phishing and Spam | Steven Harroun, CRTC

In this insightful and comprehensive conversation, Ken Simpson, CEO of MailChannels, engages Steven Harroun, Chief Compliance and Enforcement Officer at the CRTC, on a range of critical topics surrounding Canada's digital landscape. Harroun elucidates on the CRTC's role in protecting Canadians from online abuse, providing an in-depth overview of Canada's Anti-Spam Legislation (CASL) and the types of complaints received since its inception. He sheds light on their enforcement strategies, with a particular focus on spam, phishing, and other forms of cyber abuse, including the emerging challenges posed by artificial intelligence. The discussion also ventures into the CRTC's recent policies, its proactive approach towards telecom regulation, and its strategies for managing new threats such as botnet traffic. Harroun delves into the CRTC's efforts to maintain net neutrality, foster transparency, and promote public education on CASL, while also highlighting the complexities of navigating the evolving terrain of technology and communication platforms. (00:00) - Introduction(02:15) - Canada's Anti-Spam Legislation (CASL)(05:30) - Commercial Electronic Messages(08:45) - Malware, Botnets, and Viruses(11:20) - Enforcement and Penalties(14:10) - Scams and Fraudulent Activities(17:05) - The Role of the CRTC in Protection(20:00) - Changing Nature of Complaints(23:15) - Consent and Email Overload(26:30) - Phishing Scams and Government Impersonation(29:45) - Seasonal Scams and Trends(33:00) - Vulnerable Canadians and Scams(39:00) - CRA Tax Scam and Deportation Threats(45:12) - Blocking Emails with Malware and Botnets(50:24) - Challenges of Jurisdiction and Awareness(55:36) - Role of Big Telcos vs. Little Telco(1:00:48) - Importance of Transparency and Reporting(1:05:10) - Prevention and Educating Vulnerable Communities(1:10:22) - Rise of Generative AI in Phishing(1:12:34) - Potential of AI in Spam Calls(1:15:46) - Verifying Information in Age of AI